Alarm gauge



Aug. 23, 1927. 1,639,965

W. F. PRIEST ALARM GAUGE- Filed May 2. 1925 r 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J0 W 49. f/ w Z] {20% ,aflz MAX,

w. F. PRIEST ALARM GAUGE Aug. 23, 1927. 1,639,965

' Filed May -2. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 111, |||l .71 I Illlltl Patented. Aug. 23, 1927. p

UNITED STATES WALTER l. PBIEST OF SOHEBVI'LLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO THE ASHTON VALVE COMPANY, GHUSETTS.

OF GAIBBIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- ALABH GAUGE.

Application filed Kay 2, 1925. Serial No. 27,418.

The. principal object of m invention is to make a simple and depen able gauge to give an alarm when the pressure 1s too igh or too low. My gauge may be used with water, air, or steam or other materlal and 1s especially useful with sprinkler systems.

A feature of my invention 1s that 1t 1:

adaptable to any pressure, vacuum or re-- cording gauge. Another feature is that an element of what is called the movement in gauges of said types carries the terminal which is to engage the high pressure terminal and also the low pressure terminal, and said element is preferably the sector, with the result of avoiding frictional load.

Another feature i that I provide ad ustment of the alarm throughout the range of the dial, high or low or both, without interfering with the accuracy of the gauge or (113- mantling any of its parts.

Another feature is that after the alarm contact is made the gauge will continue to operate without interfering with its accuracy.

Another feature is that the gauge does not have to be retested after any change in setting the alarm.

Another terminals or contact points may contlnue to move after contact is made. 1

Still another feature is that all parts conducting the electric current are insulated from the movement and the case.

Other features will be pointed out below.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a plan of a gauge embodying my invention, the dial and glass and cap being removed;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail of the sector and adjacent parts described below;-

, Figure 3 is a partial sectional elevation on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a plan of sald gauge with all the parts in place; and

Figure 5 1s an enlarged sectlonal detail of one of the terminal carriers; and

Figure 6 is a sectional detail described below.

I provide an ordinary metal gauge casing having Wall A and base A, the latter to be connected with a suit-able support. An ordinary inlet A leads to Bourdon tube spring A which, at its movable end, 1s pivotally connected with a link which may be in two feature is that the electrical parts A and A so as to be adjustable, said parts being normally held together by screws A". Part A of said link is pivotally connected with member A slotted at A. Screw A in the desired position of adjustment in slot A rigidly connects member A with sector A at one side of the stud A upon which stud the sector is fixed and with which it may oscillate, the sector having teeth A" meshing with pinion A fixed to shaft A, the latter being in frictional engagement with the central perforation of polnter A" and oscillating the latter.

Plate B is held in place by screws 12 and b and plate B is supported with relation to plate B by means of posts B and B, these plates providing bearings for the stud or pivot A with which the sector turns and for the shaft A which turns the pointer.

A coiled spring B, connected at one end to post B and at the other end to shaft A tends to turn the latter so as to have the pointer point normally at zero.

Insulating plate 'D is screwed by screws (l to plate B and suitably supports metal brackets D and D which are substantially alike and therefore description of one will suflice. Bracket D has a recess d to receive a wire; has a threaded recess to receive screw (P, the latter holding the wire in place; has a threaded passage for the metal terminal carrier described below; has a threaded perforation at the top for set screw (i which is to hold said terminal carrier in adjusted position; and has a recess d to permit desired swinging of the sector. The terminal carrier E has a perforation at one end through which extends the shank of the movable contact or terminal E, the latter having a collar within the bore of member E which collar forms one abutment for coiled spring E the other abutment being screw plug E said spring tending to hold said collar in the position shown in Figure 5. A similar movable contact .or terminal E is similarly mounted ina carrier on bracket D Both terminal carriers are provided with peripheral notches d which may be engaged by any suitable tool so as to screw the carriers in or out to provide 1 desired adjustment after-releasing the set screw, as (i V Spaced slightly from the top of the sector is metal plate F having a vertical extension F, this plate being adjustably fixed to the sector by screw F lated at F". Y

Soldered to the top of extension F is wire F", leading to binding screw F held by nut F", the head of the screw being insulated from the casing by insulation F and the nut being insulated from the casing by insulation F The wire F held in its recess by screw d leads to binding screw F which is similarly insulated from the wall of the casing at F and F The wire F leads from bracket D to binding screw F which is similarly insulated from the casing wall at F and F Dial G is suitably connected to the lugs g on the wall of the casin and is provided with a stop 9 and also s ots g and g to give access to the peripheral notches d and also with openings to give access to the set screws such as d.

A glass may rest on the top of the wall of the casing and may be held in place by metal cap G.

I also provide additional nuts K K and K to connect suitable lead wires to the binding screws F, F and F.

In using my gauge the movement of the Bourdon spring will move the sector and give the usual indication by means of the pointer. If the pressure becomes higher than desired terminal F will be moved into engagement with terminal E and make a circuit and give the alarm and if the pressure increases still further the two terminals F and E will continue to move in contact with each other and during this movement the ointer will continue accurate and depen able indication. Similarly if the pressure becomes too low terminal F will engage terminal E and if the pressure becomes still lower the two terminals F and E will continue to move in contact with each other. During these movements the spring E in carrier E and the correspondspring in the other terminal carrier will 110 d the respective terminals E and E in firm electrical contact with terminal F.

Ad'ustment of the springs, such as E Inlay I; had by screwing up or unscrewing P s Adjustment of terminal carrier E may be had by removing the glass and cap G and, without removing the dial, inserting a suit- .and being insuable tool through aperture 9 to engage one of the notches and thereby turn the terminal carrier E. The other terminal carrier may be similarly turned by inserting a suitable tool through aperture 9. Before turning the terminal carriers the set screw,

such as d, should be unscrewed, and this is conveniently done by insertin a screw gfiyer through the adjacent openlng in the a Screw F (see Figure 6) is in threaded engagement with sector A and is insulated from the plate F by insulatin bushing F The insulatin pieces F anifF are parts of a bushing which insulate the screw and parts carried thereby from the casing. The screws F and F are likewise insulated from the casing.

What I claim is:

1. A gauge of the character described comprising pressure indicating means including a sector; two longitudinally movable electric terminals; and a third electric terminal carried by said sector and movable to make contact with one of said two terminals to make a circuit to indicate that the pressure is too high and to make contact with the other of said two terminals to make a circuit to indicate that the pressure is too low.

2. A gauge of the character described comprising a Bourdon tube spring; two electric terminals movable substantially longitudinally; and a third electric terminal movable under the influence of said spring to make contact with one of said two terminals to make a circuit to indicate that the pressure is too high and to make contact with the other of said two terminals to make a circuit to indicate that the pressure is too low.

3. An alarm gauge comprising pressure indicating means including a sector; two longitudinally movable electric terminals; and a third electric terminal carried by said sector and movable to make contact with one of said two terminals to make a circuit and give an alarm when the pressure is too high and to move with said one terminal if the pressure increases further, thereby continuing the alarm, said third terminal being also movable to make contact with the other of said two terminals to make a circuit and give an alarm when the pressure is too low and to move with said other terminal if the pressure decreases further, thereby continuing the alarm.

4. A gauge of the character described comprising pressure indicating means including a sector; two longitudinally movable electric terminals; and a third electric terminal carried by said sector and movable to make contact with one of said two terminals to make a circuit to indicate that the pressure 'is too high and movable in contact with said one terminal if the pressure increases further, said third terminal being movable to make contact with the other of said two terminals to make a circuit to indicate that the pressure is too low and movable in contact with said other terminal if the pressure decreases further.

5. A gauge of the character described comprising pressure indicating means including a sector; two longitudinally movable electric terminals; and a third electric terminal carried by said sector and movable to makeucontact with one of said two terminals to make a circuit to indicate that the pressure is too high and movable in contact with said one terminal if the ressure increases further, said third terminal being movable to make contact with the other of said two terminals to make a circuit to indicate that the pressurei's too low and movable in contact with said other terminal if the pressure decreases further, and resilient means to hold each oi'said two movable electric terminals in said movable contact with said electric' 6. In a device of the character described the combination of a bearing; a terminal carrier movabl mounted on said bearing; and a dial having an opening located to give access to said carrier for adjustment thereof relation to said he WALTE 'nrmnsr. 

